TEAMWORK AND SYNERGY

Often when people think of leadership, the image of the strong, self-assured, authoritative leader comes to mind—the man who uses his charismatic style to drive his team or company to success.

In today’s world, though, good managers realize that they can’t bring success to their business entirely through their own ideas, drive, and talents. Adopting and maintaining a sense of community is an essential factor in the progress of organizations, and a wise leader multiplies his efforts by relying on the capabilities and talents of his entire team.

Three thousand years ago, when Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw that Moses was personally holding court to settle disputes within the camp, he gave him the following advice:

You are not doing this right. You will wear yourself out and these people as well. This is too much for you to do alone.

Now let me give you some good advice. It is right for you to represent the people before God and bring their disputes to him. You should teach them God’s commands and explain to them how they should live and what they should do.

But in addition, you should choose some capable men and appoint them as leaders of the people. Let them serve as judges. They can bring all the difficult cases to you, but they can decide all the smaller disputes. That will make it easier for you, as they share your burden.

If you do this, you will not wear yourself out, and all these people can go home with their disputes settled.

The role of teamwork in the success of any initiative is clear. Even our prayers have more power when we join together to pray with others. “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

It takes many hands to build anything that is to last. Accomplished teams share a common goal and have a mission that reaches over and above the objectives of the individuals within the team. It is this collective vision, the cooperation and melding of talents that empowers the team so that the results are greater than the sum of the individual efforts or capabilities. In unity there is strength.

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Matthew 16:26 ESV / For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 37:4 ESV / Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.